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Hi everyone
If you can put yourself in my place for a moment and sympathise with me but more importantly help me.
I was at a wedding recently in my suit etc on which I always wear an Aikido lapel badge. This always bring up the question "What's that Aikido you do then?"
I can koshi people from one end of the mat to the other. I can taisabaki like a spinning top but can I hell give a good answer to that question.
People tend to answer it for me by saying "Is that the one with the sticks?"
If anyone can come up with an ideal, one sentence phrase to sum up Aikido I would be greatly appreciated. I think I gave a different answer each time as the previous one wasn't to my liking.
I can see this one being a difficult thread to answer.
Many thanks

I love these situations (note my sarcasm) because no matter what you say, it's not adaquate nor does it do justice to Aikido. I try to keep it real simple, then only go into details if they seem interested.

To people somewhat familiar with the martial arts:
"It's a style of jujutsu."

To those with no knowledge of the martial arts:
"It's like Judo"
-or-
"It's a modern version of the martial art that the samurai used"

To my 87 year old grandmother who gets confused easily, I just call it Judo...and hope O'Sensei will forgive me!

My reasoning? Most folks, even with very little or no knowledge of the martial arts, at least have an idea what Judo is...if not just from what they see on TV or in the movies. If they don't know what Judo is, they at least know what a samurai is.

I find a variation of nikyo quite useful. You know, that kind of thing, when people try take something out of someones elses hand, by prying back fingers... that certainly isn't aikido.
Aikido is, when they actually let go, because you help them keep a tight grip on the object they want so much.

I don't think that "here, grab my wrist" works at all and does not give a good impression; it makes skeptical people all the more skeptic. That may be why it isn't as obvious as you think. It would be interesting to have a poll to see how many people actually use that sentence.

I don't think that "here, grab my wrist" works at all and does not give a good impression; it makes skeptical people all the more skeptic. That may be why it isn't as obvious as you think. It would be interesting to have a poll to see how many people actually use that sentence.

Does no one anymore have a sense of humor ? Obviously, you have no idea how long a sentence I usually cobble together.

Try this as a condensed but very close paraphrase of O Sensei:

"In Aikido you never go against the attacker's power -- using the principle of absolute nonresistance, all attacking power is contained inside a circle, and striking or cutting, there is essentially one line or one point -- avoid this, remain outside of that circle, and he becomes powerless, and no matter how strong he is, you can convert him in a gentle way because you can pin him easily while you are outside of his circle, while he has already become powerless."

Hi everyone
If you can put yourself in my place for a moment and sympathise with me but more importantly help me.
I was at a wedding recently in my suit etc on which I always wear an Aikido lapel badge. This always bring up the question "What's that Aikido you do then?"
I can koshi people from one end of the mat to the other. I can taisabaki like a spinning top but can I hell give a good answer to that question.
People tend to answer it for me by saying "Is that the one with the sticks?"
If anyone can come up with an ideal, one sentence phrase to sum up Aikido I would be greatly appreciated. I think I gave a different answer each time as the previous one wasn't to my liking.
I can see this one being a difficult thread to answer.
Many thanks

Tony

Was she hot??? You know.... The babe that asked you "what Aikido was"....LOL

Next time...stay centered...breath deeply...and the answer will come to naturally just like the techniques do LOL

Aikido is a private non-judgemental, non-gender bias, non ageist, non-anything S&M club. We pay top money to have total stranger produce pain upon us. Instead of leather thong.. we wear a Hakama. But still HAWT baby!

[quote=William Hazen;188242]Tried that line a few times.... I always ended up with a drink on me or a slap on my face... QUOTE]
Ah yes, the old days before I studied Aikido. I remember them all too well. ;-)

Lynn Seiser PhD
Yondan Aikido & FMA/JKD
We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!